The rare earthelement potentialin Greenland

No. 20 - November 2011

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Supply of rare earth elements (REE) iscomplex. REE deposits are geographi-cally unevenly distributed and thecontent of individual REEs varies fromdeposit to deposit; some deposits onlycontaining a few of the REEs in de -mand. Greenland is endowed withseveral large REE deposits, related tovarious geological settings. Severalprojects have reached advanced stagesof exploration. Additionally, Greenlandalso holds geological terrains favour -able for hosting undiscovered REEdeposits, as concluded in a recent REEworkshop.

Introduction

Demand for REE is growing rapidly due toinnovation in the so-called ‘green tech-nologies’, electronic devices, defence sys-tems and petroleum refining catalysts. Theglobal requirement for REEs in 2010 was134,000 t, with global production around124,000 t. The difference was covered byutilising previously mined reserves. Global

demand is projected to rise to 180,000 tannually by 2012, and for neodymium,dysprosium, europium, terbium and yttri-um in particular, forecasts show that sup-plies will become critical. In response tothis rising global demand, Greenland hasexperienced a strong international interestover the past decade in search of new REEdeposits. The fact that Greenland isendowed with geological environmentsfavourable to hosting REE accumulationmakes Greenland attractive to the REEexploration industry.

On this background the GeologicalSurvey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS)and the Greenland Bureau of Mineralsand Petroleum (BMP), conducted a REEpotential workshop in 2010 to provide theREE mineral exploration sector with thescientific background and necessary datato make qualified decisions. This magazinehighlights some of the results from thisworkshop.

Highlights from the REE potential assessment workshop

A total of thirty-five areas were assessedby an expert panel during the REE work-shop.

Information compiled on known REEdeposits and geological provinces inGreenland, as well as compilations of geo-chemical stream sediment data were treat-ed in conjunction with models for REEdeposits in order to assess the potentialfor REE deposits in Greenland.

An overview of the REE distributionbased on geochemical information fromavailable stream sediment data is demon-strated by the compilation map of streamsediments.

The REE workshop assessed the follow-ing REE-prone geological environments:

• Carbonatite magmatismREE accumulations are observed associ-ated with carbonatite complexes. InGreenland the accumulation is oftenrelated to late hydrothermal activity,

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1 The rare earth element potential in Greenland

View of the Kringlerne multi-element deposit with the characteristic mountain Redekammen in the background. Photo: Bureau of Minerals and Petroleum.

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100 km

La/Yb

Stream sediment sample location

1 - 2020 - 40

40 - 60

60 - 120> 120

Probable source environment

Pegmatite or placer

Alkaline or sedimentary

Carbonatite, lamprophyreor monzonite

Stream sediment samples with high REE(La>300 ppm, or Eu>10ppm or Yb>15 ppm)

Archaean craton

Palaeoproterozoic mobile belts

Caledonian mobile belt

Phanerozoicsedimentary,volcanic andintrusiverocks

Inland Ice

KvanefjeldKringlerne

Grønnedal-Ika

Qassiarsuk

Tikiusaaq

Sarfartoq

Kap Simpson

Motzfeldt Sø

Karrat

Qaqarssuk

Skjoldungen Alkaline Province

Milne Land

Licenced REE prospects with / without resource estimates

Other sites with REE potentialcarbonatitesalkaline complexes

carbonatites

alkaline complexes

other

/

/

where pathways in shear zones andjoints play an important role.

• Alkaline intrusionsREE accumulations are typical duringigneous processes in layered intrusionsof strongly differentiated magmas withor without hydrothermal overprints.

• Pegmatite settingsIn simple pegmatites related to gran-ites, the minerals allanite and monaziteare commonly enriched in light REEs,whereas a whole range of rare REEminerals occurs in alkaline pegmatites.

• IOCG mineralising systemsREE accumulations are typical in miner-alising systems with low Ti - contentsand where there are extensive Na andK - alterations, combined withincreased contents of Co, Ag, U, Cuand P in coeval magmatism.

• Paleoplacer environmentsPlacer deposits are a result of second-ary accumulation of heavy minerals,often REE bearing minerals like mon-azite and xenotime.

The individual tracts assessed during theworkshop are shown on page 7.

The potential areas outlined in thesouthern, eastern and southwestern partof Greenland are due to the presence ofthe Gardar intrusives, carbonatites andalkaline intrusions. In North Greenland,however, only a few areas were defined,due to the extensive carbonate platformand sedimentary basins hiding possibleREE deposits.

A list of the 10 REE occurrences withthe highest assessment score from theworkshop assessment is given in table 1.

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Left figure: Plot of REE-anomalous stream sediment samples in Greenland reflecting the presence of known and unknown REE mineralisation or very REE-enriched rocks. Symbol colour scale illustrates the variation in La/Yb ratio of the anomalies. Since fractionation among light and heavy REE shows consid-erable and characteristic variation among diverse REE-rich lithologies, and since these characteristics are reflected in the stream sediments, the La/Yb ratiocan be used to indicate the probable source lithology of a stream sediment anomaly. Right figure: Simplified geological map with selected known REEprospects and other sites with REE potential.

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Known REE deposits

Eight REE deposits have been discoveredup to now in Greenland, of which twomay well be amongst the 10 largest REEdeposits in the world. The geological set-tings for these REE deposits vary, and theages cover a wide span. A brief introduc-tion to these known deposits follows.

The Gardar province hosts three largeREE deposits: Kvanefjeld, Kringlerneand Motzfeldt SøThe Meso-proterozoic Gardar province inSouth Greenland is designated as a cra-

tonic rift province consisting of sand-stones, and a variety of volcanic and plu-tonic igneous rocks. The plutonic rocks arealkaline to peralkaline and are hostedwithin the Ilímaussaq intrusion (1160 Ma).The Ilímaussaq intrusion is largelyimplaced by block subsidence and formedby three pulses, of which the third formeda layered series of nepheline syenites. TheIlímaussaq intrusion is generally enrichedin the elements U, Th, Nb, Ta, Be, Zr, Li, F,Zn and REE, and hosts two REE depositse.g. Kringlerne (dominated by the kakor-tokite bottom cumulates) and Kvanefjeld(dominated by lujavrites). The Gardar

province also includes the IgalikoNepheline Syenite Complex, hosting theMotzfeldt Sø REE deposit.

KvanefjeldThe Kvanefjeld multi-element deposit,located a few kilometers north of Narsaq,South Greenland, is an accumulation ofvarious igneous rocks and supracrustalsfrom the roof of the Ilímaussaq intrusion.Additionally rocks from the early phases ofthe alkaline intrusion are also included,forming blocks and sheets within the lateragpaitic magma. The bulk of the REE (aswell as U and Th) is associated with the

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Tract name Location Deposit model Geological settings Deposit size & grade* Score

A1 Kvanefjeld Alkaline Known deposit. High level of information. 619 Mt 50 Extensive drilling has been conducted on the deposit. (6.6 Mt TREO including 0.24 Mt Contains uranium above background level. heavy REO, 0.53 Mt Y2O3 + 350 Mlbs U3O8 and 1.4 Mt Zn).

A2 Kringlerne Alkaline Known deposit. High level of information. Extensive 1,000 Mt @ 2% ZrO2, 0.25% 50 drilling has been conducted on the deposit. Low Nb2O5, 0.5% REO, 0.1% Y2O3 and uranium content below or equal to background level. 0.025% Ta2O5.

C3.1 Sarfartoq Carbonatite Known carbonatite showing. Kimberlites & 14 Mt @ 1.53% TREO. 41 terraine boundary in the area = active pathways.

O3 Karrat Other The REE prospect have been drilled which classifies it 26 Mt @ 1.36% TREO + Y. 35 as an undiscovered deposit. Lamprophyric dykes are found in the area = active pathways. The deposition model is not yet fully understood – more work required. C3.2 Qaqarssuk Carbonatite Known carbonatite showing. Lamprophyres are found REE resource is currently 32 in the area = active pathways. beeing investigated. A3 Motzfeldt Sø Alkaline Known REE prospect. Micro syenites (which host the REE resource is currently 31 REEs) not much investigated. Limited drilling – only Ta, beeing investigated. Historical Nb and U targets drilled. More work is needed to data: 600 Mt @120 ppm Ta + evaluate the REE potential. 130 Mt grading 0.4 - 1.0% Nb205. A3.1 Qassiarsuk Alkaline Dyke with aegirine as prime mineral. Unknown. Showings of REE 22 The dyke is up to 4 m thick and can be followed for known - up to 1%. several kilometres. High Th content.

C4 Tikiusaaq Carbonatite Known carbonatite showing. Lamprophyres and possible REE resource is currently 21 terraine boundary in the area = active pathways. beeing investigated.

A11.1 Kap Simpson Alkaline Alkali syenite complex. Malmbjerg type alteration (high Unknown. Rock samples enriched 19 temp) seen via hyperspectral mapping. Several in REEs (3%) & Nb (3.2%). sources of mineralised rocks sampled from glaciers. C8.1 Overall tract Carbonatite Known showing. Lamprophyres and ailikites are found Unknown. 19 around the in the area. Greisen alteration at Ivittuut. Radioactive Grønnedal-Ika dykes (Ce enriched) are present in the area – radiates carbonatite. from the Grønnedal-Ika carbonatite.

Table 1. List of the 10 REE occurrences with the highest scores from the workshop assessment. Maximum score is 50.Tract name refers to the areasshown on map on page 7. * Deposit size and grade numbers are based on company announcements and available online data as of September 2011. For specific and updatedinformation please refer to the company websites of the individual deposits.

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lujavrite rocks hosting disseminated steen-strupine, which is the primary mineral hostof both REEs, U and Th. The deposit alsocontains zinc, occurring mainly as dissemi-nated sphalerite in the lujavrite, and fluo-rine hosted in the mineral villiaumite(NaF). The Kvanefjeld deposit has previ-ously been explored for the potential of Uand Th.

The Kvanefjeld REE deposit is dominat-ed by Ce (approx. 40%), La (approx.25%), Nd (approx. 15%), Y (approx.10%), Pr (approx. 5%) and the remainingHREE accounts for about 5%.

Greenland Minerals and Energy A/S hasreported the following resource estimatefigures (based on 150 ppm U3O8 cut-off):

• Total JORC resource of 619 Mt• Indicated JORC resources of 437 Mt• Inferred resources of 182 Mt• Contained metal inventory of 6.6 Mt

TREO, including 0.24 Mt heavy REOand 0.53 Mt Y2O3 as well as 350 MlbsU3O8 and 1.4 Mt Zn

• Near surface, higher grade zonesdefined, including 122 Mt @ 1.4%

TREO, 404 ppm U3O8 (0.05% heavyREO, 0.12% Y2O3)

KringlerneThe multi-element deposit at Kring lerne ishosted in the lower cumulates of the lay-ered agpaitic nephenline syenites, referredto as kakortokite, and is situated near the

townships of Narsaq and Qaqor toq inSouth Greenland. The kakortokite cumu-lates form a total of 29 cyclic, and regularlayers, with a total thicknes of about 200m, made by units composed of blacksyenite (arfvedsonite dominated), reddishsyenite (eudialyte dominated) and whitishsyenite (feldspar dominated) rocks. The

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The characteristic layering of the Karkortokite at the Kringlerne multi-element deposit. Note the campsitein the lower left part of the image as scale. Photo: TANBREEZ Mining Greenland A/S.

View of the Narsaq Valley, Kvanefjeld and gravel road to the former test mine. Photo: Greenland Minerals and Energy A/S.

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mineral eudialyte (Greek for ‘easily dis-solved’) is enriched in Ta-Nb-REE-Zr-Y andthis is the main exploration target for REEby the licensee, Rimbal Pty Ltd. The kakor-tokites have been investigated for decadesfocusing in particular on Zr, Y, Nb, andREE.

Current work by Rimbal Pty Ltd indi-cates a resource of no less than 1,000 Mtgrading 2% ZrO2, 0.25% Nb2O5, 0.5%REO, 0.1% Y2O3 and 0.025% Ta2O5. Thedistribution of light and heavy REEs ineudialyte is reported to be 88% and 12%respectively.

Motzfeldt SøThe Motzfeldt Sø REE deposit is part ofthe Motzfeldt Centre, which in turn is partof the Igaliko Nepheline Syenite Complex.Pyrochlore accumulations in the MotzfeldtSø syenite show significant grades ofTantalum. The estimated resource basedon investigations carried out by GEUS in

the 1980s is 600 Mt grading 120 ppm Ta.High grade zones carry up to 426 ppm Ta.Additionally an Nb resource of at least130 Mt grading 0.4-1.0% Nb205 isknown. The deposit is regarded as a ‘lowgrade-large tonnage’ type of resource.

Ram Resources Ltd. is currently investi-gating the intrusion for REEs. The 2010work indicates that the known Ta-Nb min-eralisation is only weakly correlated withthe REE mineralisation. In the central partof the intrusion, where the richest Ta-Nbmineralisation is found, the lithology ispredominantly altered syenite, with minorpegmatite and diorite dykes. However,high grade REE intersections are concen-trated in the pegmatite intrusives atdepth, but are also found scatteredthrough out the drill holes, graduallydecreasing in grade towards the east.Estimated JORC resource figures are antici-pated at the beginning of 2012.

SarfartoqThe Sarfartoq carbonatite complex (564 Ma)is well exposed, situated on the transitionzone between the Archaean craton andthe Palaeoproterozoic Nagssugtoqidianmobile belt. The host rocks are granodi-oritic gneisses.The complex was discov-ered by GGU in 1976 on the basis of aregional airborne radiometric survey andlater fieldwork. Subsequently, the complexhas been the target of various explorationcampaigns focusing on diamonds, P, Nband REE.

The central core zone of the complex issurrounded by a series of ring-like layersor dykes, containing innumerable intrusive

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Drill core logging at the Motzfeldt Sø camp in 2011. Photo: Ram Resources Ltd.

Map showing the areas (tracts) used for the REEpotential assessment workshop, groupedaccording to the type of geological environmentof relevance to REE deposits.

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Ubekendt Ejland

Vaigat

Sullo

rsuaq

Halvø

Svartenhuk

C3

C9

C4

C5C11

C13

C8

C15

C14

C1

C10

C12

C6 C9.1

C7

C11.1

C9.2

C8.1

C3.1

C3.2

C2

I3

I2

I1

P8

P3

P12

5

P9

P11

P10

P4

P13

4

P2

P5

P7

P1

P6

O1

O2

.1

A15

3

A5

A7

A2

A11

A12

A4

A16

A8

A6

A?

A9

A10

4

A1

B A

F F

I N B

U G

T

D A

V I S

S

T R

Æ D

E

E L L

E S

M E

R E

I

S L A

N D

M e

l v i l l e B

u g

t

K a n e B a s s i n

N A R

E S

S T R

Æ D

E

W a s h i n g t o

n L a n d

PEARY LAND

L A U

G E

K O

C H

K Y

S T

Pituffik

J. C. C

hristensen Land

Aasiaat

Disko Anap Nunaa

Legend

Alkaline tracts

Carbonatite tracts

IOCG tracts

Pegmatite tracts

Other tracts

0 125 250 375 500Kilometers

P1

P1

O3

O3

A1

A1

A11.1

A17 A3A3.1

C4.1

Nuuk

Paamiut

Sisimiut

Attu

Tasiilaq

Skjoldungen

Illoqqortoormiut

Store Koldeway

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carbonate breccia veins. Substantial feniti-sation occurs around the core. Minerali sa -tion of Nb and REE has been recorded fromseparate zones in the outer fenitised zone.The REE minerals are correlated with thoriumand are mainly bastnasite, syn chy site andmonazite.

In 2010 Hudson Resources reported anNI 43-101 compliant resources estimateresult over the ST1 site in the northern partof the complex: 14 Mt inferred resourcesavaraging 1.53% TREO at a cut-off gradeof 0.8% TREO. The REE distribution is45% Ce, 20% La, 25% Nd, 6% Pr, 2%Sm, and approx. 2% Gd, Dy and Y.

QaqarssukThe Qaqarssuk carbonatite complex (165Ma), situated 60 km east of Maniitsoq,West Greenland, intruded the Archaeangneiss complex, along with kimberlitedykes and alkaline intrusions. The compo-sition of the carbonatite varies from söviteto rauhaugite.

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View towards the well exposed outcrop at the ST1 site, part of the Sarfartoq carbonatite complex.The slope is c. 200 m high.

Outcropping of vertical to subvertical, early stage carbonatite sheets of the Qaqarssuk carbonatitecomplex. Photo: NunaMinerals A/S.

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In 2010 NunaMinerals A/S initiated REEexploration within the carbonatite. Themain potential appears to lie in the coreof the complex concealed in carbonateveins , and the company reports the aver-age grade for a 1.5 km2 area as 2.4%TREO, mainly hosted in ancylite (Sr-REE-carbonate); the mineralisation is LREEdominated with 50% Ce, 27% La, 16%Nd, and 5% Pr. The REE-mineralised veinsare generally less than one metre thick.

TikiusaaqThe Tikiusaaq carbonatite, discovered byGEUS in 2005 by using regional streamsediment data and regional airborne geo-physical data, consists of massivedolomite-calcite carbonatite sheets intrud-ed along a ductile shear zone at approxi-mately 158 Ma. The carbonatite is later

intruded by carbonate-rich ultramafic sili-cate dykes. NunaMinerals A/S initiatedexploration of the Tikiusaaq carbonatite in2010, and focussed on the aeromagneti-cally defined ‘carbonatite core’. REEs aretypically enriched in the latest phases ofcarbonatite magmatism, and the main REEmineral is ancylite (Sr-REE carbonate). REE-enriched carbonatite surface samples con-taining up to 9.6% TREO (predominantlyLREE), have been found in an area ofanomalous thorium counts. The REE distri-bution is 47% Ce, 33% La, 12% Nd, 4%Pr and 4% other REEs. High phosphategrades (up to 8.5% P2O5) were returnedfrom surface samples within the magneticcore of the carbonatite.

A recent interpretation of radiometricand magnetic data indicates a separate bodyabout 750 m long and 100 m wide and

that the extension of the carbonatite dykescontinues to a depth of at least 500 m.

The Niaqornakassak andUmiammakku Nunaa REE deposits The Niaqornakassak (NIAQ) REE deposit incentral West Greenland was discovered byAvannaa Resources Ltd. in 2007 and in2009, an extension of the deposit was dis-covered on the Umiammakku Nunaa(UMIA) peninsula 7 km along strike fromthe NIAQ site. The two deposits are jointlynamed ‘Karrat’.

Work conducted by Avannaa ResourcesLtd. in 2010 on the NIAQ and UMIAdeposits included diamond drilling andcollecting 13 mini-bulk samples. The REEaccumulation is hosted in an amphiboliteunit of the Palaeoproterozoic Karrat Group.Strike length of NIAQ is 1.5 km but open

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Aerial view of the Tikiussaq carbonatite complex with carbonatite sheets and fenites (yellowish areas) exposed in north walls of the gully. The extent ofthe gully is c. 1-1.5 km. Photo: NunaMinerals A/S.

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at both ends. The tabular NIAQ ore bodyhas been found at a maximum elevationof 56 m above sea level and down to 168 mbelow sea level; the thickness variesbetween approx. 10 m and 33 m. TheNIAQ bulk samples indicate an average ofTREO of 1.36%, of which the averageHREO content is approx. 13%. Preliminaryresource estimates of the NIAQ body are26 Mt. The REE are mainly hosted by bast-nasite, monazite and allanite related tohydrothermal agents within the miner-alised sequences. Very limited work hasbeen undertaken on the UMIA body.Based on three drill holes the TREO of theUMIA deposit is in the range of 0.08 -0.12%.

Milne Land REE depositThe Mesozoic Milne Land paleoplacer wasdiscovered in 1968 by Nordisk MineselskabA/S in connection with a heavy mineralsconcentrate sampling programme and anairborne radiometric survey. The placer isin the basal part of the Charcot Bugt For -mation, and the most anomalous locality,"Hill 800" in Bays Fjelde, is around 500 min diameter and 40-50 m thick. The heavyminerals are hosted by a 20 m thick basalsandstone. The potential resources REE,Tiand Th are mainly hosted in monazite.

In 1990, Coffs Harbour Rutile extracteda 15-tonne selective bulk sample from 5pits in the “Hill 800” area, and about 10tonnes were investigated metallurgically.Recoveries from a pilot scale study led tothe conclusion that it is feasable to extractcommercial products of monazite, zirconand garnet, but not of anatase due to itsfine-grained and complex nature. CoffHarbour Rutile estimates the resource for“Hill 800” at 3.7 Mt with 1.1% zircon,0.5% monazite, 2.6% anatase, 3.1% gar-net and 0.03% xenotime. Sirius MineralsLtd. are currently exploring the REE poten-tial of this placer deposit.

Conclusions

Based on the conclusions of the recentlyconducted workshop at GEUS, SouthGreenland is believed to have the largestpotential for hosting new REE deposits,

aside from of the known deposits atKvanefjeld and Kringlerne. Among themore promising areas are around theGrønnedal-Ika carbonatite and theQassiarsuk carbonatite.

West Greenland is highly prosperousfor carbonatite related REE deposits.

Among the known deposits are Sarfartoq,Qaqarssuk and Tikiussaq. Of these, Tikiussaqwere only recently discovered in 2006.

In the more remote and less investigatedareas of Greenland, the Kap Simpsonalkaline intrusion in central East Greenlandand the Skjoldungen Alkaline Province in

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South East Greenland are believed to havea good potential for hosting new REEdeposits.

Several of the known deposits arealready covered by exploration licencesand extensive exploration and drilling iscurrently being carried out on several

licences to move the projects towardsexploitation stage. Greenland has thusresponded to the increased global demandand has a possibility to become a majorexporter of rare earth elements.

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Geological mapping and sampling of the NIAQREE deposit in 2010. Photo: Avannaa Resources Ltd.

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Key references

Grice, J. D., Gault, R.A., Rowe, R. & Johnsen, O.

2006: Qaqarssukite -(Ce), a new barium-cerium

fluorcarbonate mineral species from Qaqarssuk,

Greenland. Canadian Mineralogist 44, 1137-1146.

Harpøth, O., Pedersen, J.L., Schønwandt, H.K.

& Thomassen, B. 1986: The mineral occurrences

of central East Greenland. Meddelelser om Grøn -

land. Geoscience 17, 138 pp.

Knudsen, C. 1991: Petrology, geochemistry and

economic geology of the Qaqarssuk carbonatite

complex, southern West Greenland. Monograph

Series on Mineral Deposits 29, 110 pp.

Secher, K. & Larsen, L.M. 1980: Geology and

mineralogy of the Sarfartôq complex, southern

West Greenland. Lithos 13, 199-212.

Secher, K., L. M. Heaman, Nielsen, T.F.D.,

Jensen, S.M., Schjøth, F. & Creaser, R.A. 2009:

Timing of kimberlite, carbonatite, and ultramafic

lamprophyre emplacement in the alkaline province

located 64º– 67ºN in southern West Greenland.

Lithos 112S: 400-406.

Steenfelt, A. 2001: Geochemical atlas of Green -

land – West and South Greenland. Dan marks og

Grønlands Geologiske Undersøgelse Rapport

2001/46, 39 pp. + 1 CD-Rom.

Steenfelt, A., Schjøth, F., Sand, K.K., Secher, K.,

Tappe, S., Moberg, E. & Tukiainen, T. 2007:

initial assessment of the geology and economic

potential of the Tikiusaaq carbonatite complex and

ultramafic lamprophyre dykes. Mineral resource

assessment of the Archaean Craton (66° to

63°30'N) SW Greenland Contribution no. 3. Dan -

marks og Grønlands Geologiske Undersøgelse

Rapport 2007/64, 53 pp. + 1 DVD.

Sørensen, H. 2001: The Ilímaussaq alkaline com-

plex, South Greenland: status of mineralogical

research with new results. Geology of Green -

land Survey Bulletin 190, 167 pp.

Sørensen, H. 2006: The Ilímaussaq Alkaline

Complex, South Greenland – an Overview of

200 years of research and outlook. Contribution

to the mineralogy of Ilímaussaq no. 130.

Meddelser om Grønland. Geoscience 45, 70 pp.

Sørensen, L. L., Kalvig, P., Hanghøj, K. 2011: Rare

earth element potential in Greenland. Reporting

the BMP/GEUS mineral resource assessment work-

shop 29 November - 1 December 2010. 2. revised

version. Danmarks og Grønlands Geologiske

Undersøgelse Rapport 2011/80, 30 pp. + 1 DVD.

Tappe, S., Steenfelt, A., Heaman, L. M. &

Siminetti, A. 2009: The newly discovered Jurassic

Tikiusaaq carbonatite-aillikite occurrence, West

Greenland, and some remarks on carbonatite-kim-

berlite relationships. Lithos 112S, 385-399.

Tukiainen, T. 1988: Niobium-tantalum mineral-

isation in the Motzfeldt Centre of the Igaliko

Nepheline Syenite Complex, South Greenland. In

Boissonnas, J. & Omenetto, P. (ed) Mineral

Deposits within the European Community.

SpringerVerlag Berlin & Heidelberg, 230-246.

Front cover photographFront cover photograph: HudsonResources Inc. drilling for REEs at itsST19 target which is part of theSarfartoq carbonatite complex. Photo:Hudson Resources Inc.

Bureau of Minerals and Petroleum(BMP)

Government of GreenlandP.O. Box 930

DK-3900 NuukGreenland

Tel: (+299) 34 68 00Fax: (+299) 32 43 02E-mail: bmp@gh.gl

Internet: www.bmp.gl

Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS)

Øster Voldgade 10DK-1350 Copenhagen K

Denmark

Tel: (+45) 38 14 20 00Fax: (+45) 38 14 20 50E-mail: geus@geus.dkInternet: www.geus.dk

AuthorsLars Lund Sørensen &

Per Kalvig, GEUS

EditorsLars Lund Sørensen & Karsten Secher, GEUS

Graphic ProductionCarsten E. Thuesen, GEUS

PhotographsGEUS unless otherwise stated

PrintedNovember 2011 © GEUS

PrintersRosendahls • Schultz Grafisk a/s

ISSN1602-818x

View of the NIAQ and UMIA REE deposits. The distance between the two deposits is 7 km. Photo: Avannaa Resources Ltd.

Usage of the term rare earth element

(REE) in this magazine is restricted to 16

elements including Y, La, and the lan-

thanides.

Given the fact that many REE deposits

also contain various amounts of U and

Th, it should be stressed that the Green -

land Government has introduced a zero-

tolerance policy with regard to exploita-

tion of radioactive minerals. Radioactive

resources are not dealt with in this issue.

NIAQ and UMIA REE deposits

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